5/15/2015 3:17 PM PDT BY TMZ STAFF

B.B. King might be gone, but the Memphis Grizzlies are making sure he's not forgotten ... taking time out to remember the music titan before tonight's HUGE playoff game ... TMZ Sports has learned.

We spoke to the Grizzlies reps who tell us ... before the team takes on Golden State in Game 6 of the Western Conference semifinals tonight ... they'll honor the hometown hero who passed Thursday at age 89.

The team didn't wanna give away too many specifics about how they're planning to honor King -- but are hoping fans of both basketball and music enjoy the huge surprise they have in store.

11/19/2013 1:00 AM PST BY TMZ STAFF

Zach Randolph has some serious 'splainin' to do ... 'cause the Memphis Grizzlies star hit up the L.A. club scene this weekend wearing a CHICAGO BULLS HAT ... and TMZ Sports has the footage.

Randolph and his crew rolled into Greystone Manor in Hollywood on Sunday night ... and even though he didn't feel like talking, he definitely made a huge statement with his choice of headgear.

Of course, San Francisco 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick took a TON of heat for a similar situation earlier this year ... when he was seen out with a Miami Dolphins hat on.

Some of his teammates -- and other players in the league -- went after Colin, saying he made a huge mistake by wearing another team's logo. Many players and fans believe it sends the wrong message about the player's loyalty.

8/28/2013 9:55 AM PDT BY TMZ STAFF

He's out with the Clippers, but Lamar Odom could have a new home in Memphis ... if Grizzlies superstar Zach Randolph has anything to say about it.

Randolph -- a former Clipper himself -- was outside The Emerson Theatre in L.A. last night when we asked if he'd welcome Lamar to his team, if L.O. can get his life back in order.

"Damn right," Randolph said ... "He's a good dude."

Randolph knows a thing or two about second chances -- he's had multiple run-ins with the law over the years and was once suspended for punching a teammate in the face ... yet overcame his troubles to emerge as a bona fide superstar.

... a superstar who knows what it's like to get SWATTED hard by L.O. (check out the video below).

8/27/2013 1:00 PM PDT BY TMZ STAFF

EXCLUSIVE

Lamar Odom was deep into drugs while he was playing for the Dallas Mavericks and there is evidence he was doing the exact same thing while playing for the Lakers ... TMZ has learned.

Sources connected to a Westin hotel in Memphis tell TMZ ... in March of 2012, shortly before Lamar was cut from the Mavs, he stayed in one of the guest rooms while his team was in town playing the Grizzlies.

Our sources say when Lamar left, hotel employees found major carpet damage ... including quarter-sized burn marks. The damage was so bad, the hotel had to replace the carpeting in the room.

Our sources say hotel employees also found white powder on the desk blotter and the room reeked of noxious smoke. Our sources say it was obvious there was serious drug use going on in the hotel room.

The Westin is one of numerous hotels where NBA players stay when they're on the road. TMZ has contacted a number of these hotels in various cities. We've learned from several hotel employees ... they had complained about the state of the rooms when Lamar left -- similar to what happened in Memphis -- and this was while he was playing for the Lakers.

Our sources say no one on the Mavs knew Lamar was a substance abuser while he was on the team, but everyone knew something was seriously wrong with him.

We're told that during at least part of the time he was playing for the Mavs, Lamar was smoking Oxycontin and cocaine.

Odom's problems were so severe, he was cut from the Mavs mid-season and paid in full just so he would go away.

TMZ broke the story ... the drug use escalated to crack -- and we're told Lamar's level of crack use is now alarming and life-threatening.

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